Gudja United were the better team during the first period and after just two minutes the St Venera keeper Roderick Spiteri brought off a fine save to deny Peter Paul Sammut.

St Venera were then close through Dalton Wingfield and in the 7th minute Spiteri avoided a certain goal off a point-blank shot by Gudja’s promising striker Peter Paul Sammut.

On another occasion a shot by Elvin Gauci was deflected to a corner-kick and then Sammut hit just wide with an angled shot.

On 32 minutes Gudja took a deserved lead as Trevor Thomas headed in from an Aaron Guazzo corner-kick and five minutes before the break another Guazzo corner-kick led to Gudja’s second goal scored by Dalzier Zammit. In added time a Guazzo free-kick was well saved by Spiteri.

After the change of ends Gudja retained the upper hand in the midfield sector and continued to dominate the proceedings.

St Venera were close early on through a Stefan Farrugia free-kick which was saved by Xerxen with Gudja responding through a headed attempt by Trevor Thomas which was deflected to a corner-kick.

In the 53rd minute Gudja made it 3-0 through an own-goal by Lightnings’ defender David Calleja with St Venera responding through a Jeffrey Zammit corner-kick which was saved by the Gudja keeper.

In the 64th minute St Venera reduced the arrears through substitute Josef Taliana from a cross by Dalton Wingfield with Gudja then twice going very close through Trevor Thomas and Peter Paul Sammut.

Late in the match the Lightnings pushed forward but were never menacing infront of goal.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Mtarfa-Qrendi 2-0

After just three minutes Mtarfa broke the deadlock through Darik Mohamed Abdilla following a personal effort.

Mtarfa sustained the pressure and were again close on two occasions through Hamudi Hussan with Qrendi gradually gaining the initiative and were denied by James Borg on two occasions off attempts by Johan Scicluna and Adrian Muscat.

The Mtarfa keeper was then again on hand top stop a strong shot by Chris Farrugia and just before the break Qrendi wasted a clear opportunity through Christian Caruana.

After the resumption, Qrendi pushed forward and on 54 minutes they were denied by the Mtarfa keeper off a Johan Scicluna free-kick.

They were then twice close through attempts by Andre Formosa and Davide Mula and in the 70th minute a Johan Scicluna inswinging corner was well saved by James Borg.

In a counter-attack five minutes from time Mtarfa sealed the issue with a second goal scored by substitute Terrence Azzopardi for a 2-0 final scoreline.

This is Mtarfa’s first win of the season.

Referee: Keith Buhagiar.

Marsascala-Attard 1-1

Marsascala obtained their first point of the season in a hard fought match against Attard who were the better side throughout.

Attard went close early on through an angled shot by Keith Xuereb which was neutralised by Renald Attard. In the 13th minute, Attard opened the score thanks to a close range shot by Kayne Said off a Kurt Zarb cross.

Attard maintained the initiative as they went close again in the 23rd minute through an effort from Keith Xuereb which was saved by Renald Attard.

Marsascala failed to react as Attard kept the onslaught through efforts from Kayne Said and Darren Galea whose shot was saved by Renald Attard.

Marsascala performed better in the second part as they managed to equalise in the 54th minute thanks to a personal effort from Prince Ali Osman who dribbled Dunstan Zarb and netted from close range.

Attard replied in the 65th minute through a shot from Kurt Zarb which went over the bar. Five minutes later, Renald Attard denied Attard as he saved an insidious shot from close range by Kayne Said.

In the 88th minute, Marsascala went close to taking the lead as they missed a good opportunity through Prince Ali Osman who shot wide from a good position.

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar

St Lucia-Xghajra 0-0

St Lucia and Xghajra shared the spoils in a match where neither team could capitalise on the numerous goal scoring opportunities they created throughout the match.

St Lucia went close after just four minutes through an Emanuel Cutajar shot which was saved by Roderick Camilleri. In the 15th minute, an effort from Adrian Dominicus of St Lucia was neutralised by Neil Attard while a few minutes later it was Joel Grima who went close for the Saints with a shot that just missed the upright.

Xghajra replied in the 26th minute through a Horace Pace shot which was saved by Duane Carabott. Towards the end of the first part, Sa Lucia had a shot from Brian Chetcuti which was neutralised by Roderick Camilleri.

Early on in the second part, Sta Lucia went close through efforts from Emanuel Cutajar and Adrian Dominicus while Xghajra replied through a header by Christ Zammit which just missed the target.

In the 79th minute, Xghajra were unlucky when a shot by Jonathan Cachia hit the crossbar while a minute later they were denied by a good save from Duane Carabott on a close range shot from Christ Zammit.

Referee: Emanuel Grech

Section B

Ghaxaq-Fgura U 4-0

After just eight minutes Fgura were denied by Ludvic Fardell off a free-kick taken by Matthew Spiteri with Ghaxaq responding through a cross shot by Matthew Axiaq which was saved with difficulty by Fgura’s custodian Jesmond Lia.

In the 28th minute an error by Lia allowed Bjorn Dalli to give Ghaxaq the lead and a minute later a shot by Bronwen Bugeja finished just high over the bar.

In the 38th minute Ghaxaq made it 2-0 through Bjorn Dalli in a swift counter-attack as he lobbed the ball over Lia and a minute before the break Dalli was close to obtaining his hat-trick but he was anticipated by Fgura’s defender Carl Calvagna.

In the 52nd minute Fgura were denied by Fardell off a Vince Camilleri but four minutes later Ghaxaq made it 3-0 with Bjorn Dalli obtaining his personal hat-trick with the Fgura keeper once again being at fault.

Fgura were then denied by Fardell off a shot by Clint Ellul and on another occasion an attempt by Matthew Spiteri was turned onto the post by the Ghaxaq keeper.

Fgura then wasted an easy opportunity through Carl Calvagna but in the 80th minute Ghaxaq scored a fourth goal through substitute Louis Falzon.

Two minutes from time Ghaxaq were reduced to 10 players as Brian Barbara was sent off for a second caution.

Referee: Eren Yurtseyer

Gharghur-Luqa SA 1-2

The first period was a balanced affair with Gharghur going close after nine minutes through an Alexander Ribic free-kick which was saved by Paul Psaila.

In the 11th minute Luqa had a free-kick taken by Maveric Psaila and Mark Said’s header was saved with difficulty by Franco Scicluna and in the 17th minute Scicluna was again on hand to stop a close-range shot by Roderick Debattista.

In the 22nd minute Gharghur took the lead through an unfortunate own-goal by Luqa’s player Mark Said off a shot by Gharghur’s striker Ivan Ebejer.

Luqa’s reaction produced a shot by Roderick Debattista which was well saved by Franco Scicluna with Gharghur’s reply producing an attempt by Nenad Veselji which just missed the target.

Just two minutes after the restart Luqa got a deserved equalising goal through Roderick Debattista with an angled shot and in the 56th minute they were denied by Franco Scicluna off a close-range shot by Mark Said.

In the 65th minute Luqa took the lead through Lee Baldacchino following a personal effort with Gharghur responding in the 76th minute as they went close through an Alexander Ribic free-kick.

Despite Gharghur’s sustained pressure they were kept out by an organised Luqa defence.

This is the first defeat this season for the leaders Gharghur following five successive wins.

Referee: Luke Portelli.